Meet Our Instructor Team

(from A-Z)

We partner with all-star instructors from eclectic backgrounds who bring subject matter expertise, respect for the land, and a love of teaching & building community through foraging.

  • Autumn Summers

    she/her

    Instructor: seaweed, forest nut programs

  • Carrie Staller

    she/her

    Instructor: mushroom programs, founder of Fork In The Path

  • Chad Hyatt

    he/him

    instructor: wild food cooking classes

  • Christian Schwarz

    Christian Schwarz

    he/him

    Instructor: mushroom programs & co-author of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast and Mushrooms of Cascadia

  • Christopher O'Maelmacasa

    they/them

    Instructor: plant & mushroom programs

  • Jonathan Furst

    he/they

    Instructor: Nature mysticism programs

  • Lori Schwanbeck

    she/her

    Instructor: Mindfulness in nature

  • Maria Kostick

    she/her

    Staff photographer. Thank you Maria for so many of the beautiful photos on this website!

  • Mikhael Crystallah-Selk

    he/him

    Instructor: Mushroom classes

  • Pascal Baudar

    he/him

    instructor: fermentation classes

  • Ryath Beauchene

    he/him/we

    Instructor: mushroom foraging & cultivation programs

  • Sita Davis

    she/her/ella

    Instructor: mushroom programs and staff photographer

  • Taye Bright

    she/her they/them

    Instructor: mushroom programs

  • Thea Chesney

    she/her

    Instructor: Mushroom & plant programs

“Our instructors brought warmth, inclusivity, wisdom, and respect for the land and its first people. The icebreaker and closing activities served as a nice source of human connection for the group. I especially enjoyed the scientific explanations and cooking demo! ” -Hilary M.